Ikeja Electric announces maintenance, warns of power interruptions in Lagos

Ikeja Electric Plc has announced a maintenance exercise at its Oworonshoki Injection Substation in Lagos, warning residents and businesses in affected communities to expect temporary power interruptions during the work.

The electricity distribution company said the maintenance involves the replacement of panels at its 3 x 15 MVA Oworonshoki Injection Substation and is scheduled to run from August 24 to September 3, 2026.

According to Ikeja Electric, the exercise is necessary to strengthen its distribution infrastructure and improve the stability and reliability of electricity supply to customers connected to the network.

The company said several 11kV feeders linked to the Oworonshoki substation would be affected during the maintenance period, potentially resulting in interruptions for customers supplied through the affected lines.

The feeders listed by the electricity distribution company are 11-OworonJNJ-T1-Bariga, 11-OworonJNJ-T1-Hospital, 11-OworonJNJ-T1-Ifako, 11-OworonJNJ-T2-Ladilac, 11-OworonJNJ-T2-Oworo, 11-OworonJNJ-T2-Pedro, 11-OworonJNJ-T3-Anthony, 11-OworonJNJ-T3-Gbagada and 11-OworonJNJ-T3-GTB.

Customers and businesses connected to these feeders may experience electricity supply disruptions at different times while the maintenance work is being carried out.

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Ikeja Electric apologised for the inconvenience the exercise may cause and appealed to affected customers to be patient and understanding throughout the maintenance period.

The company said the intervention forms part of its broader efforts to upgrade electricity distribution infrastructure, improve network performance and provide a more dependable power supply to customers across its coverage area.

The maintenance is expected to be completed on September 3, after which electricity supply to the affected areas is expected to return to normal, subject to the operational condition of the network.

Ikeja Electric also urged residents and other stakeholders to help protect electricity infrastructure by remaining vigilant and reporting activities that could expose distribution facilities to vandalism or damage.

The company thanked its customers for their cooperation and continued support as it carries out the infrastructure work.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to plan accordingly during the maintenance period, particularly households and businesses that depend heavily on electricity for daily activities.

Ikeja Electric announces maintenance, warns of power interruptions in Lagos

BREAKING: Tinubu Orders Immediate Rescue of Niger Mosque Abduction Victims

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and all relevant security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to immediately rescue victims of the Niger mosque abduction. The directive was disclosed in a State House statement on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu expressed outrage over the abduction and killing of innocent citizens by criminal elements in the state.

Tinubu described those responsible for the attack as “enemies of peace and enemies of humanity” and vowed that they would not go unpunished. “Those who carried out this cowardly attack on defenceless Nigerians are enemies of peace and enemies of humanity, who will not go scot-free,” the President said. The President extended his condolences to the families of those killed in the assault. “I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who were killed in this barbaric assault and pray that Almighty God grant them eternal rest, and grant their loved ones the fortitude to bear this painful loss,” he said. He assured the affected communities of the nation’s support: “You are not alone. The entire nation shares your anguish. We will not rest until your sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are brought back safely to you.”

The President has directed the Service Chiefs to provide him with regular briefings on the progress of the rescue operation until all those abducted are accounted for. “Terror will not cow Nigeria. We will defend our people, protect our communities, and uphold the sanctity of human life,” Tinubu affirmed. The Federal Government has pledged to support the Niger State Government with all necessary resources for recovery, relief, and security reinforcement.

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The attack occurred on Friday, August 21, 2026, when suspected terrorists invaded a mosque in Gidan-Zana, Kpenya village, Dekara District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The gunmen reportedly stormed the mosque at about 2 p.m. during Juma’at prayers and immediately began taking worshippers away. Children, women, and elderly residents were among those reportedly taken, while some villagers fled into a nearby forest to escape the attackers. Among those reportedly taken were the village head of Ka’ada, who had recently regained freedom from captivity, and the 90-year-old father of the District Head of Dekara. An armed group posted a video on Facebook and WhatsApp showing what residents said were hundreds of women, children, and older people abducted during the attack. The footage shows children crying while an armed man speaking Hausa addresses the families of those being held and asks them to identify their relatives. If confirmed, it would rank among Nigeria’s largest mass kidnappings in recent years.

The Niger State Government has acknowledged that the number of persons abducted is still being verified. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nuhu Nana, the government urged the public to refrain from circulating unverified reports or casualty figures that could heighten anxiety or compromise ongoing security efforts. The Chairman of Borgu LGA, Mohammed Nasir Abdullahi, confirmed that about 30 of those abducted had been killed by their captors, adding that “from the records I have, those kidnapped were a little above 60.” Residents, however, have given higher estimates, with some estimating between 60 and 80 people were kidnapped, while others suggested as many as 600 may have been taken.

Amnesty International has urged Nigerian authorities to act urgently to secure the victims’ release and address the growing wave of abductions targeting rural communities across northern Nigeria. The organisation described the incident as particularly concerning because the victims were abducted while observing Friday prayers. Amnesty said at least 1,100 people were abducted between January and April 2026, while noting that available figures vary and may significantly underestimate the actual scale of the problem. The organisation warned that victims of previous mass abductions had reported severe abuses, including torture, starvation, sexual violence and amputation.

Niger State has experienced repeated violent attacks in recent years, including banditry and kidnapping, as Nigeria continues to battle terrorism, abduction, and other security challenges across its northern and central regions. The Borgu-Kainji corridor has become a hotspot for armed groups operating around Kainji Lake National Park. Residents have reported that seven out of ten wards in Borgu LGA are currently affected by insecurity, with hundreds of people, mostly farmers, displaced and dozens killed in recent months. Over 300,000 people are estimated to be displaced in the area. The Kpenya attack occurred barely a week after gunmen killed at least 32 people during Friday prayers at a mosque in Ungushi community, Sokoto State, including the mosque’s imam. Mass abductions for ransom have become common in parts of northwestern and north-central Nigeria, where heavily armed criminal gangs frequently raid villages, schools, and highways.

BREAKING: Tinubu Orders Immediate Rescue of Niger Mosque Abduction Victims

Warri-Itakpe Derailment: 4 Dead, 64 Injured – Opeifa Explains What Really Happened

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has released a preliminary report indicating that a sudden wheel or bogie defect may have caused the June 8 train derailment in Delta State that killed four people and injured 64 others.

NIGERIA – The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said that a “possible sudden development of a bogie or wheel defect” may have been the primary factor in the June 8, 2026 derailment of the Warri-Itakpe Train Service in Delta State. The corporation also identified the “possible manner of brake application” as a factor that may have contributed to the severity of the incident. However, the NRC stressed that both remain working hypotheses pending the conclusion of a comprehensive investigation. The NRC disclosed this in its preliminary report on the incident, which occurred at about 4:17 p.m. while the train was approaching the Outer Home signal of the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station at kilometre 177, Owa-Oyibu, Agbor. “Based on the internal investigation carried out by the NRC inquiry team, preliminary observations indicate the possible sudden development of a bogie/wheel defect while en route. This observation is being investigated further as a potential primary factor in the derailment,” the NRC said in the report signed by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa. “A wheel defect of this nature may have generated abnormal wheel-rail interaction, excessive impact loading, and loss of running stability”.

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The train had departed Itakpe at noon with 482 people on board, comprising 442 passengers and 40 operational personnel. Five coaches, one locomotive, and a power car derailed, with three coaches and the power car overturning. The incident resulted in four confirmed deaths – three adults and one child – while 64 people sustained various injuries. Of those injured, 28 were treated and discharged at the Railway Hospital in Owa-Oyibu, while 36 others were taken to general hospitals in Owa-Oyibu, Owa-Alero, and Central Hospital, Agbor. Most of those admitted were discharged within 72 hours, though three people, including an NRC staff member who required surgery, remained under specialist medical care. All passengers were evacuated within two hours of the incident, with emergency response operations involving the Delta State Government, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Emergency Management Agency, and local authorities.

Importantly, the NRC inquiry team found that the railway points were intact and detected no evidence of track vandalism at the accident location. This distinguishes the June incident from two previous Warri-Itakpe accidents on November 1 and November 8, 2025, which were attributed to track vandalism. The NRC said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an independent investigation in line with statutory requirements, with the NRC fully cooperating with the process. The NSIB has recovered critical evidence from the accident scene, including witness statements, operational records, maintenance documentation, and technical data, which are undergoing detailed analysis. “The NSIB final report remains pending,” Opeifa stated.

The corporation said the track has been fully recovered and restored, while the locomotives are undergoing reconditioning. However, resumption of the Warri-Itakpe service would depend on the completion of a detailed track and equipment safety audit. The NRC’s preliminary report also recommended comprehensive inspections and safety audits of rolling stock, tracks, and railway infrastructure; strengthened maintenance and condition-monitoring programmes; updated operational procedures; and stronger enforcement of safety standards.

Warri-Itakpe Derailment: 4 Dead, 64 Injured – Opeifa Explains What Really Happened